Frostproof closet valve



Feb. 23 1926.

P. HAA'S FROSTPROOF CLOSET VALVE Filed May 22, 1924 4 Z5 u 24 nbentoz @MQ @m @j Patented F eb. 23, 1925.

PATENT QEFICIEI;`

PHILIP I-IAAS, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

FROSTPROOF CLOSET VALVE.`

Application filed M2322,

.To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, lniiail Haas, a citizen of. the United States,residing at Dayton, in the county of vi'viontgomery, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and uset'ul lmproveuients in FrostprooiE Closet Valves; and l do hereby'declare the following to be a full, clear, and enact description of the invention,.such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the saine.

My invention lconsists in the novel 'features hereinafter described, `reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one embodiment of the invention selected by me 'tor the purpose ot illustration, and the said invention is 'fully disclosed in the tollowing.description and claims.

My present invention is an improvenlent on the vtypeof apparatus disclosed in my former Patents N os. 1,034,789, granted August (i, i912, and 1,111,7elll,,granted Septem-` bei '29, mit.

T he type oi apparatus to which my inven-` tion. applies, is what is termed in the art a 'frost-prout or anti-freezing `water closet device herein shown is intended to be used with a. closed :liush tank for accumulating' ,water in said tank when the seat is depressed and on the release of the seat, closing; the .inlet from the main or service pipe and discharging the accumulated water 'from the tank to thecloset bowl for lusllingpurposes.

'Devices of this character' are ordinarily installed in outliouses and other placeswhere needed and are connected directly to a water main which in most cases also supplies water to the adjacent houseor houses l'or drinking' other words, .that part oi thel apparatus be-` 1924. Serial N0. 715,010;

tween the submerged water `main and the bowl, maybecome filled with contaminated water which may be forced back into the main bythe air pressure inthe tank, or

otherwise, upon the opening of the water.-

inlet valve a sutticient distance to ind its way to an adjacent hydrant, sink or other apparatus for delivering drinking' water.-

valve casing to prevent the contamination of lthe water through the drain pipe, but further investigation ol the sub]ect showed ,me that contamination of the water in the main might take place through the flush pipe under certaincircumstances, and in my Patent No. 1,111,741, l' provide a check valve between the main and the water inlet valve of the apparatus below `the connection of the d 'ain pipe lor the `purpose oi' preventingl the possibility ot contamination.`

vWhile this construction has given good results-in the main, I have found in actual experience that this construction is open to a serious objection for the reason that it is impossible to repair or replace the check valves without digging up and removing,r the entire valve mechanism, which extends sev eral feet below the ground, ior the purpose o1' having' the connection with the water main well below the frost line.` lioreover,

lin the-construction covered by my former Patent No. 1,111,74il, there were three valves* to be kept in operative condition. Accord ing to my present invention, l provide the central valve actuating rodat its lower cnil with a combined out oil and check valve, permanently, but movably, connected thereto, thereby reducing' the number of valves t0 two, and providing, a construction `in which, by simply unscrewing ,a single threaded part` at theupper end ol the valve casing, the entire valve actuating rod may be removed 'from the casina' so that both valves, inclding the combined check and cut olil valve, can` be readily 1repaired or rcplaced, as may be necessary.

ln the drawing, in which l have shown the best form in' which l have contemplated enibodyingthis invention, selected by me for purposes of illustration,

Fig. `1 is a vertical sectional view of a i'rostproof flushing valve mechanism einbodying my invention, intermediate rpor.-

vof the tank, While the valve stein itself remains in raised position.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view, slightlyV enlarged, showing the manner `oli connecting the combined check and inlet valve with the valve stein.

In the drawings, 1, represents the upper or main valve casing, provided with a central partition, 2, dividing it into an upper chainber, 3, and lower chamber, 4. rlhe upper chamber is provided with a passage,

y5, which l term the flushing passage, and

which is connected to the closet bowl, a portion ot which isv indicated at 6. l conveniently provide this passage, 5, with a bearing portion, 7 and a hinge pin, 8, upon which the seat is hinged. 9 represents a portion of the seat hinge member, secured to the seat, which is here shown broken away, and this hinge member is preferably provided with biturcated extensions, one ot which is indicated at 10, for automatically elevating the valve stein when the seat is depressed. The lower portion of the valve casing, 1, is provided with a threaded aperture, 11, connected by ineans ot a pipe, 12, to a closed flushing tank (not shown)Y in a well known manner. The partition, 2, is

-provided with an internally Ascrew threaded aperture, into which is screwed a sleeve, 18, provided at its lower end with a valve seat, 14, within the lower chamber, 4, ot the valve cassing, and provided above the partition with lateral apertures, indicated at 15, coininunicating with the iushing passage, 5. The sleeve is provided above the valve casing with a shoulder-,'15, to engage a packing washer, 17, and the upper end of the sleeve is provided with an aperture, 18, for the passage of the valve stein, and a stufing box, 19, surrounding the stein to make a water tight connection. The lower end of the valve casing, 1, is provided with a threadedlaperture, 20, into which is screwed the upper end of a long pipe section, 21, Vextending below the surfaeeo the ground tar'enough to be well below the surface ot the frost line. -At the lower end ot the pipe, 21, is an auxiliary valve casing, L22, which is preterably screwed on tothe lower end ot the pipe. This valve casing, 22, is provided at its lower end with a threaded portion, 253,V

to whichis screwed pipe, 24, which supplies thewater for the installation, and is connectedv tothe general system of' water supply. lt is the water in this pipe which it is the aini ot my invention to prevent under every possibility from `contamination in order to prevent the possibility of contaminated water being drawn into neighboring sevice pipes. The valve casing, 22, is provided at its lower end with a valve seat, 25, above which, and within the casing, extends the central bore or passage, 26, in axial alignment with the valve stem. The valve casing is also provided with a lateral bypass, 27, extending from the valve seat, 25, around the passage, 26, 4and communicating at its upper end with the vertical pipe, 21. The passage, 26, is provided with a lateral outlet passage, 28, which is connected in any suitable manner with a pipe, 29, extending to the soil-pipe of the closet bowl, orV any other part ot' the neighboring sewer connections, for the purpose of draining any water within the valve mechanism after a flushing operation. 3() yrepresents the valve stein, which is preferably formed in sections and united by threaded connections in the usual manner. Ast the lower end of the valve stein, l provide a plunger, indicated at 31, and shown in section in Fig. 4, the lower portion of the 'plunger being inade to lit the central passage, 26, in the lower valve casing and having its exterior provided with a reduced portion, indicated at 32, which in the normal position of the parts, will be adjacent to the lateral drain passage, 28. v'lihe plunger, 31, is bored out at both ends, as shown, leaving a central partition, 33, provided with a reduced aperture through which extends a coupling screw, the lower end oi' which is threaded into the upper end of the combined inlet and check valve, 35, the lower end of which is provided with a washer, 36,Y heldv in place by screw, 37, and adapted to engage the valve seat, 25. rllhe upper end ot' the plunger, 31, is internally threaded and screwed onto the lower end of the valve stein, 30. lt will be seen that the plunger, 8l, can be raised without lifting the valve, 35, which has a limited movement vertically with respect to the plunger and valve stern, SO. n The valve, 35, is provided with an annular shoulder, 38, which is engaged by the lower endet the plunger, 81, when the parts are in normal position, so as to hold the combined check and inlet valve irmly on its seat. Adjacent to its upper end the valve stein, SO, is provided within the chainot the valve casing, 1, with a flushing valve, 89, provided with a washer, 40, for

engaging the valve seat, 14, at the lower end of the sleeve, 13.V A heavy Vcoil spring, 41, surrounds the valve stein within the sleeve,

and between the top portion of the valve sleeve and the washer, 40, and serves to deas indicated in Fig. 1. The upper end of the valve stem above the Valve casing, l, is provided with a `suit-able cap, indicated at 42, secured in position by means ot a nut, iengaging a threaded portion of the valve stem, the said cap engaging the biturcated arms, l0, ot the said hinge member. By virtue ot this construction the coil spring, el, also servesto maintain the seat in raised position, and the depression et the seat will obviously raise the valve stem so as to close the flushing 'valve and raise the plunger, 8l.

'The construction of the apparatus having now been described, I will brietly explain the operation of the apparatus. Supposing theapparatus to be in the position shown in Fig. ],1the depression ot' the seat will rock the hinge member, 9, and raise the valve stem, as before described, thus closing the flushing valve, Z39-40, and raising the plunger, 31, into the position shown in Fig. 2, so asto close the drain passage, 2S, leading tromthe central passage, 26. The lifting ot the valve stem does not of itselt raise the inlet valve. The inlet valve, S35-3G is raised bythe waterpressure in the main into theposition shown in Fig. 2, and the water'trom the main, 2l, will tlow upward through the by pass, 27, to the chamber, Ll, in the main valve casing, and thence to the tank, accumulating inthe tank until the pressure within the tankequals the pressure in the main, vwhen the flow of water will cease'and the pressure being equalized, the

-check Valvev will drop by gravity into the position indicated in Fig. 3, so as to close 'the inlet aperture in the lower Vvalve casing. it' will thus be seen that no water which has once p passed int-o the 4valve apparatus an lind itsway back into the main to containinatethe water therein. Yihen the seat is released, the spring, 4l, will cause it to litt andwill also depress the valve stem, opening the ftlushing valve, 239-40, and the air pressure in the tank will canse the accumulated water therein to flow through the pipe into the chamber, 4t, ot the valve casing, l, up through the slee-ve, 13, and out through the flushing passage, 5, to the bowl, to effect the iiushing operation. At the same time the plunger, 31, will descend and open the drain passage, 28, and by engaging `the shoulder,v38, on the combined inlet and checkvalve, will apply the pressure of the spring to this valve. to hold it firmly on the seat, There will be a slight leakage of water' through the passage, 28, during the flushing operation, but the passage is so unich smaller thant-hetlnshing passage that its veffect is immaterial. lVhen the flushing action is completed, there will remain necessarily a considerable quantity of water in -thenpper valve' casing, the lower valve casing and 'the connecting pipe section, 2l, which, 1f 'allowed to remain, would freeze and destroy the apparatus. rIhis water will drain out through the passage, 29, to the soil pipe and pass off, leaving all that part oi the apparatus above the frost line empty so that there is no danger ot freezing even in the coldest weather, no mattei' ho'w 'frequently orintrequently the apparatus is used. lt will also be seen that in case olI the contamination ot the water within the valve mechanism either through the connection, 2), with the soil pipe, or through the flushing passage, 5, this contaminated water cannot, under :my cireumstalnres, pass into the main so as to contaminate the 'ater therein, because the inlet valve .is only opened by the actual excessive pressure in the main while it acts exactly as a check valve to instantly close as soon as the pressure in the valve apparatus equals or exceeds that in the main.

It will be readily seen that there are prac tically only two valves in this mechanisni which require repair or attention, the flushing valve, 3Q-Mill, and the combined inlet and cheek valve, 35H36, at the lower end ol the Yalve stem. lt will also be seen that by simply unscrewing the sleeve, lli, the entire valve stem, no matter how great its length, can be removed without disturbing any olf the pipe connections, thus a'l'iording an op portunity to readily repair the valve by replacing the 'ashers, il) and 3G, or otherwise, and the parts can as readily be reassembled in operative position.

While as a mattei' ot convenience the valve casing is preteralily made up ot an upper valve casing, l, a lower valve casing, 22, and the connecting p'pe, 2l, ot' any desired length, l consider that these parts constitute in reality the valve casing, and in the 'tollowing claims this term will he understood as applying to these parts, unless otherwise stated.

In providing the flushing valve, 39, with the valve washer, 10, ot leather. rubber, libre or other suitable material I preferably ierely slip an annular washer, il), over the stem and preferably provide above it an ordinary metallic washer, i0, ol brass or other suitable metal against which the lower end ot' the spring, all, abuts. lt will thus be seen that the spring, Lll., holds the washer, 40, at all times against the tace of the mctallic valve body, 3). This obviates the nece sity of threading the valve stem and providing a securing nut and lock nut, and this materially reduces the cost ot manufacture.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. In a lrost proot flushing valve mechanism, the combination with a valve casing, provided at its upper end with a tank conneet-ion and a :tiushing passage, and having a portion adapted to extend below the frost line and provided with a drain passage, and a water inlet, of a vertically disposed Talve lll) Cil

stem mounted in the valve casing and provided adjacent to its upper end with a normally open valve for closing the communication between the tank connection and flushing passage and capable of limited upward movement 'into closed position, and provided at its lower end with ar normally closed combined inlet and check valve tor the water inlet, secured to but having a vertical movement with respect to the valve stein, the limited normal movement yot' the valve stem to close said normally open valve being insuilicient to open said combined inlet and check valve.

2. ln a frost proof flushing valve mechanism, the combination with a valve casing, provided at itsl upper end with a tankoonnection and a Flushing passage, andhaving a portion adapted to extend below the frost line and provided with a drain passage, and a water inlet, ot a vertically disposed valve stem mounted in the valve casing and provided adjacent to its upper end with a normally open valve for closing thecommunication betwen the tank connection and flushing passage and capable ot limited upward movement into closed position, and provided at its lower end with a normally closed Y combined inlet and check valve for the water and a spring for holding the valve stem in normal position, the limited normal movement of the valve stem to close said normally open valve being insuliicient to open said combined Vinlet and check valve. Y i 3. In ay frost proof flushing valve mechanism, the combination with a valve casing, comprising an upper casing provided with a partition having a threaded aperture therein, a tank connection below said partition anda `flushing passage above said partition, a removable sleeve threaded into .said partition and provided with portions tor closing the upper end oi" the casing, the lower endet said sleeve being provided with apertures above the partition communicating with the flushing passage and having a valve seat at its lower end below said partition, the lower portion ot the valve casing being provided witha water inlet having a horizontal valve seat surrounding the same, a main passage in axial alignment with said seat, a by-pass extending around said main passage, and a drain passage connected with the main passage, of a valve stem extending vertically through said casing and sleeve, and provided with a normally open valve below the valve seat thereof, said valve stem being provided with a plunger engaging the main passage adjacent to said drain passage, and provided below the same with a normally closed combined inlet-and check valve engaging the valve seat of the water inlet and connected to the valve stem by means permitting said stem to move upwardly, independently thereof, the parts being so constructed that the normal movement of the valve stem to close said first mentioned normally open valve upon the seat at the lower end of the sleeve, will not litt the inlet valve from its seat, and a spring engaging said valve stem and pressing it normally downward into Contact with the combined inlet and check valve to hold the latter normally upon its seat, whereby said sleeve may be removed and the valve stem may be bodily withdrawn from the valve casing, together'` with the valves connected thereto, including the combined inlet and check valve.

l. In a 'frost proof liushing valve mechanish, the combination with a valve casing comprising an upper casing provided with a partition having a threaded aperture therein, a tank connection below said partition, and a flushing passage above said partition, a vertical pipe section connected with said upper casing, and provided with an inlet pipe connection and inlet valve seat at its lowerend, of a valve stem extending vertically throughsaid casing and pipe section, a sleeve screwed into the threaded aperture ot said partition in the upper" casing and guiding said valve stem, said sleeve being provided with a valve seat at its lower end and with apertures communicating with the Vposition and the inlet valve in closed position, said spring serving at all times to hold said valve washer in operative engagement with the flushing valve body.

Y 5. ln a 'frost proof closet flushing valve, the combination with a casing provided with a tank connection and a flushing passage and having a portion extending below the frost line and provided with a drain passage and a water inlet, of a flushing valve seat and an inlet valve seat, a valve rod reciprocally mounted in the casing and having a valve to engage the flushing valve seat and a combined inlet and check valve carried by said alve rod and adapted to engage said inletvalve seat.

G. ln a frost proof closet flushing valve, the combination with a casing provided with a tank connection and a flushing passage and having a portion extending below the frost line and provided with a drain pas- Sage and a Water inlet, of a ushing valve Seat and an inlet valve seat, a valve rod re- 5 eiproeally mounted in the easing and having a valve to engage the flushing` valve seat, a combined inlet and cheek valve carried b v said valve rod and adapted to engage Said 'inlet valve seat, and removable means earried by the easing,` for guiding the valve rod, Said means when removed permitting the removal of the valve rod and the flushing and combined inlet and cheek valve.

.7. In a frost proof closet flushing valve mechanism7 the combination with a valve easing, of a valve stem removably mounted therein, a flushing; valve carried thereby,

and a mechanically and pressure actuated 'valve adapted to control the inlet to the easing and being renlovaliile from the easingl with the valve rod.

8. In a frost. proof closet valve, the combination with a valve easing' oiE a valve rod removably mounted therein, a lushing valve carried by the rod and an inlet valve carried by the rod and removable from the Casing with said rod, said inlet valve being' freelyv movable with relation to the rod Within limits and beinel Seated b v actuation ot the rod, and unseated b v fluid pressure 'in the easing, and adapted to be resented when the fluid pressure is balanced.

In testimony whereof I affix in v signature.

PHILIP IIL-IAS. 

